All proceeds for the First Night Whitman buttons help support our town’s food pantry.

And the clock strikes midnight! Should times long past be forgot (days of auld lang syne). This is what it’s all about: a ten second countdown, cookie drops and fireworks commence!

The roof of Duval’s Pharmacy sets the stage for the pyrotechnics when the clock strikes midnight.

Special thanks to the First Night Whitman committee for all their hard work in bringing this together, as well as bringing so many citizens of a great little town together. More thanks and kudos to the Whitman Police Dept and the Whitman Fire Dept as always, for keeping our town safe.

Ashley & Keith chose one of the quaintest spots on the South Shore for their wedding ceremony and reception. TJ Smith’s Victorian House provides the setting that is overflowing with charm and beauty. Their charming chapel provides a unique way to keep all the events of the day at one venue.

Ashley was able to get ready with her girls right on site.

Ashley is a vision of beauty, before and after the dress.

The ceremony went off without a hitch. From that first glimpse of his bride, to a recessional among family and friends, Keith could not have exuded a drop more of happiness.

Having an on-site chapel at TJ Smith’s Victorian Chapel is a priceless amenity.

Plenty of gorgeous outdoor backdrop for some formal photos…

Ashley & Keith are picture perfect.

A beautiful ceremony, followed by a day of celebrating, dancing, and a flower toss…

Going through Laura & John’s wedding photos to write this blog post, all I can say is “wow”! Surely one of the most fun-filled weddings I have photographed, starting with getting ready at the Quincy Marriott, during the ceremony at St. Agatha’s in Milton and right through until the last dance at The Neighborhood Club, there wasn’t one moment that didn’t exude Laura & John’s love for each other, and for their friends and family who joined them that day.

Getting ready at the Quincy Marriott was a breeze for Laura. All smiles, no stress. She makes it look easy!

Laura & John’s wedding at St. Agatha’s was unique in that it was modernly steeped in tradition. A very cool priest, Rev. Murphy, let the day dictate itself instead of trying to run the show made for an easy-going, nicely flowing and worry free ceremony.

Laura & John’s wedding ceremony at St. Agatha’s, March 29, 2014.

Laura & John choose a great venue for family and friends to gather for their reception. The Neighborhood Club helped to give them a wonderful night of great food, dancing and celebration that won’t be forgotten.

Celebrating at The Neighborhood Club, no one could stay off the dance floor.

How do you celebrate something as major as that? You ask a local high school to build a six-foot cookie and drop it from the sky at midnight on New Year’s Eve, of course! Sounds crazy, but that’s exactly what happened last night in the town center, in front of Duval’s Pharmacy and Mary Lou’s Coffee. It wasn’t “just a cookie”. There were bands, a DJ, food vendors and lots and lots of people. There was also 2,014 homemade Toll House cookies given away, some Whitman First Night lip balms, LOUD horns, glow sticks and so much good cheer, you couldn’t help but be glad you braved the cold and showed up. With funding from Nestle, the Whitman Winterfest Committee was able to put together a truly unique once in a life time event. WATD 95.9 FM was on hand with Kevin Tocci to do a live remote with up to date info and interviews with the key players who were “making history happen”. If you were there, you know what an amazing job they did. If you couldn’t make it, the photos will tell the tale.

DJ Big Daddy Ray from RPE was on hand as the Master of Ceremonies, kept the flow throughout the night that brought it all together. It’s not a party until Big Daddy Ray is in the house.

Big Daddy Ray from Rob Peters Entertainment was your Master of Ceremonies from the start until the last cookie crumb!

Did I mention 2014 homemade Toll House Cookies?? Free for the asking, delicious for the eating, a hit all night long!

Who could refuse a homemade Toll House Cookie?

One moment in time that literally made my night… I witnessed Cookie Monster chasing a giant Toll House cookie down the street, clearly with intentions of also chasing a glass of milk if one happened by. But later in the night, there was this… and all was right in the world.

“C” is for Cookie, that’s good enough for me… Cookie Monster is a lot nicer than you think.

The big draw for the night was the music. The bands kept the crowds dancing, which in turn kept them warm. These bands gave their all, and it was nice to see someone in the crowd named Mary hand over a pair of gloves to one of the singers. Baby, it (was) cold outside!

First band of the night at First Night Whitman to brave the cold with Mike Kostas and Kim Tomkinson… brrrrrrrrrrrr!!!

6 Foot Sunday literally brought the crowd into midnight, finishing up their cover of Sweet Child o’ Mine about 12 seconds before midnight (and the Toll House cookie drop). They did a “Linkin Park meets Skee Lo” cover of “I Wish” that should be at the top of the charts as we speak, and their unique take on “Airplanes” left the crowd pleading for more.

6 Foot Sunday rang in 2014 for the crowd at First Night Whitman.

Finally (last but certainly not least) what’s a First Night celebration with pyrotechnics? You can’t drop a six-foot Toll House cookie at midnight without fireworks.

First Night Whitman ended with a bang… fireworks lit up the sky as the cookie dropped at midnight!

Nicole & Kevin were married at one of our favorite venues, Indian Pond Country Club. Nestled in Kingston, Mass, Indian Pond is about as picturesque as it gets. With a beautiful rolling golf course as your backdrop, the perfect weather on Nicole & Kevin’s wedding day only sweetened the deal.

The beauty of an outdoor wedding ceremony at Indian Pond Country Club simply can not be beat!

With the promises and the “I do”s complete, the recessional made way to the formal photos.

Beautiful flowers for a beautiful bride.

Always a perk at Indian Pond Country Club, golf carts to get you where you’re going!

Mr. & Mrs. Dunn getting to the golf course in style!

Another great feature is the bridge view, perfect for group photos. say cheese!

Indian Pond Country Club has the best “built-in” props for formal photos. The bridge makes a perfect setting for sitting!

Classic, but casual.

September 21, 2013.

Nicole & Kevin take a stroll on the grounds before making their way to their reception.

Love is in the air.

After their grand entrance as husband and wife, Nicole & Kevin took to the dance floor.

All eyes were on Nicole & Kevin for their first dance.

Nicole’s dance with her dad was surely one of the many highlights of his day.

Once again, we were very proud to be the official photographer for the annual Run for the Roses, this year held on Sunday September 15 at the Whitman VFW.

If you are not familiar with this annual motorcycle run, now in its 5th year, it’s held in honor of Rachel and Lillian Rose Entwistle, a mom and her baby daughter who were victims of domestic violence at the hands of Rachel’s husband (Lillian’s father) Neil. This motorcycle run started 5 years ago, on a rainy Sunday, with a small number of motorcycles, has become an annual event which this year topped over 800 motorcycles, as well as many classic cars.

A sea of motorcycles wait at the Whitman VFW to begin the 5th annual Run for the Roses.

It’s a day of “coming together for a common cause”. Men, women, old and young. All these people coming together is truly an amazing feat. Riders came from all over Massachusetts and from as far away as Florida.

Run for the Roses brings riders from all over the state to Whitman, Mass.

We should mention that some four-legged friends also came out to support the fight against domestic violence…

Who can resist a pup in goggles?

The official logo gets stuck on many helmets, because these rides are proud to support the fight against domestic violence.

We saw lots of riders add the Run for the Roses logo sticker onto their helmets.

Every year, the organizers arrange for great music and entertainment. This year they recruited the Mumblers to perform in the Whitman VFW pavilion to entertain the crowds.

Great music is found at The Run for the Roses every year.

You can almost smell the burgers cooking right through the blog. Every year, volunteers come out to cook up a storm. After all, these guys and gals work up an appetite!

Run for the Roses is all about people coming out and volunteering their time and talent.

Rachel’s dad (Lillian’s granddad) speaks every year to thank everyone for coming out.

Every year sees a purple balloon release after all the bikes come back from the run.

Purple balloons being sent up to Rachel and Lillian Rose.

If you’ve never been to the Run for the Roses, or didn’t make it to this year’s event, “like” their FaceBook page to be sure you don’t miss next year’s event. You don’t even have to ride to come out and support this great cause.

We photographed a wedding at Saphire Estate in Sharon, Mass. last month that could not possible have been more perfect. The bride, Jes, was an absolute joy to work with. Her groom, Josh, was an equal pleasure to his bride, truly a match made in heaven. The friends, the family, the vendors, the venue, the sunset… this is why I love my job.

Outside Saphire Estate, the groom’s aunt officiated the ceremony for a special and personal touch.

It was especially cool that the groom’s aunt, Hon. Beverly Weinger Boorstein, was officiating the ceremony. She was smooth and captivating, and had the guests mesmerized.

The recessional, man & wife, and a quick kiss…

The first dance is possibly one of the most pivotal events of the night. DJ Derek Holt from Entertainment Specialists was on hand to ensure that everything went as planned.

All eyes on the Saphire Estate dance floor are on Jes & Josh as they dance like no one is watching.

The traditional parent dances took a unique turn when both couples, bride & dad and groom & mom, took to the floor together.

Jes & her dad, and Josh & his mom share the dance floor for the parent dance.

The traditional dancing didn’t stop there. The night couldn’t be complete without a Hora.

Watch that ceiling! A Hora on the dance floor at Saphire Estate brings out the best dancers!

A few moments stolen away from the crowd is treasured, because the day is over in the blink of an eye.